Device for forming stacks of sheeted web material



March 16, 1965 Filed March 5, 1962 D. N. OBENSHAIN ETAL 3,173,321

DEVICE FOR FORMING STACKS OF SHEETED WEB MATERIAL 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS DAVID NOEL OBENSHAIN ATTORNEYS www March 16, 1965 D. N. OBENSHAIN ETAL 3,173,321

DEVICE FOR FORMING STACKS OF SHEETED WEB MATERIAL Filed March 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV EN TORS DAVID NOEL OBENSHAIN BY 8. WILLIAM R. PENROD FIG-2 ATTORNEYS wwmw March 16, 1965 D. N. OBENSHAIN ETAL 3,173,321

DEVICE FOR FORMING STACKS 0F SHEETED WEB MATERIAL Filed March 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 on A Q INVENTO S DAVID NOEL OBENSHAIN 3Y8 WILLJAM R. PENROD FIG-3 ATTOR N EYS March 16, 1965 OBENSHAIN ETAL 3,173,321

DEVICE FOR FORMING STACKS 0F SHEETED WEB MATERIAL Filed March 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG-4 N m m w UHR T S N N m s E WBP IALUR M m M H DI M W D 8 Y B MJ M 4% ATTORNEYS March 16, 1965 D. N. OBENSHAIN ETAL 3,173,321

DEVICE FOR FORMING STACKS OF SHEETED WEB MATERIAL Filed March 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 FIG-6 FIG-9 66 I84 8 I85 ms INVENTORS DAVID NOEL OBENSHAIN & WILLIAM R. PENROD ATTORNEYS March 16, 1965 D. N. OBENSHAIN ETAL 3,173,321

DEVICE FOR FORMING STACKS OF SHEETED WEB MATERIAL Filed March 5, 1962 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 REEL VANE R i .E: mmvroks DAVID NOEL OBENSHAIN BY GWILLIAM R. PENROD U 65 W MY@ L ATTORNEYS United States Patent Ohio Filed Mar. s, was, Ser. No. 177,514 12 Claims. (31. 83-152) This invention pertains to sheeting devices and more particulary to a device for forming stacks of sheeted web material of uniform dimensions from a roll.

In the paper industry, there is a requirement for sheeting devices which can operate with a wide variety of paper stocks and grades to form skids of sheeted paper .of uniform size from a single roll of material satisfactory for feeding a sheet-fed printing press. The present practice consists of feeding .a sheeter simultaneously from several rolls which feed together as layers into the sheeting machine. This present practice requires a considerable amount of space for the several rolls and further results in a considerable amount of wasted paper due to short sheets, turned-over ends and other mechanical difficulties. Furthermore, the present practice requires the employment of specialized labor such as trimmers, cutters, inspectors, and layboys.

The present invention has as one of its objects the elimination of many of the difficulties in the present practice by the provision of a sheeting device which operates from a single roll of paper stock to provide skids of sheeted paper of uniform dimensions. The device of this invention includes a retractable reel winder which forms convolutions of uniform length. The sheeting device of this invention includes a cutting knife assembly with an oscillating or reciprocating knife which moves parallel to the paper on the winder. A feed mechanism moves the knife into the paper convolutions at a rate continuously proportional to the linear speed of the knife.

The cutting knife assembly is mounted on the reel stand directly over the retracting reel and applies cutting pressure downwardly against the cutting vane of the reel. The proportional feed mechanism for the oscillating knife assures uniform cutting pressures and eliminates the layer effect which results where the knife feed rate is not proportional to the knife movement.

The abovecutting arrangement by the progressive cutting of one sheet at a time eliminates many of the difiicu'lties in t e present practice of sawing through the sheets with a rotary knife or saw. These difficulties include the formation and collection of dust on the sheets, the burning of the paper edges, and even the breaking of the saw blade when cutting heavy coated or i'illed paper. The reciprocating motion allows the use of much lower cutting pressures and less substantial structures are required.

The knife assembly is mounted for movement on vertical ways and includes a clamp which moves with the assembly to apply clamping pressure to the paper roll.

The clamping pressure may be the result of the weight of the assembly or may be augmented by clamping motors, if desired, which engage the cutting vane.

The invention has as -a further object the provision of a combined suction and cutting vane and a suction clamp which have vacuum selectively applied to maintain uniform tension in the web during cutting and transfer of the end of the web for the starting up of the winder reel under full tension. The failure of prior devices to maintain uniform tension during starting results in a variation in the length of the first few sheets 3,173,321 Patented Mar. 16, 1965 or convolutions, which difficulty is eliminated by this invention.

The operation of the combined cutting and suct1on van-e and the suction clamp is made possible by the employment of a layer of porous sintered metal as the operating or gripping surface of these members. ,The p0- rous metal provides a holding force which exceeds th tensile strength of the paper by reasons of its unique ability to spread the vacuum over a larger :area of the paper surface. I

Another object of this invention is to provide a sheeting device which lends itself to the incorporation of controls for fully automatic operation from Winding through cutting. It is also an important object of this invention to provide a machine which transforms rolls of various grades of paper into skids of sheeted paper satisfactory for feeding into a printing press.

Another object of this invention is to provide a sheeting machine having one or more of the improvements and mechanisms as outlined above.

Otl er objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

In the drawings FIG. 1 is a partial exploded view in perspective of a sheeting device according to this invention, with portions being broken away to show internal structure;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cutting knife assembly of FIG, 1;

FIG. 3 is an elevational view of the cutting knife assembly looking from the front of the machine;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged sectional view showing the relation of the cutting knife assembly to the reel taken generally along the. line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a partially broken away bottom view of the suction clamp;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged sectional view of the clamp of FIG. 5 taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary and partially broken away top of the suction vane of the reel;

FIG. 8 is a section through the suction vane taken generally along the line 88 of FIGA7;

FIG. 9 is a simplified diagram showing a vacuum control system which may be used with the cutting and suction vanes; and

:FIGS. 10-14 are somewhat diagrammatic views illustrating the cutting and web transfer operation of this invention, and the corresponding lFIGS. 10a, 12a and 13a diagrammatically illustrate the application of vacuum to the clamping and cutting vane corresponding to the position of the elements in FIGS. 10, 12 and 13.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate a preferred embodiment of this invention, a sheeting device constructed according to this invention is illustrated in FIG. 1 as including a pair of spaced apart uprights or supporting stands 20 land 21. The stands '20 and 21 are formed with bases 23 for attachment to a floor. The

stands are joined to each other by a box-like center secshown, there being a full and complete description of a suitable drive mechanism in the Bachman patent, and the reel drive mechanism forms no part of the present invention.

The reel is provided with a pair of ends .34 and members 44, one of which is shown in FIG. 1.

on which are supported a plurality of retractable winding vanes 38. During winding, the vanes 38 are moved or drawn radially inwardly at a precise and predetermined rate with each revolution of the reel 30, the inward move= ment resulting in the diminishing of the diameter of the reel by an amount equal to twice the thickness of the web being wound for each revolution thereof. The vane retracting mechanism of the reel 30 may be as shown in the Bachman patent.

Retracting reel devices for sheeting have enjoyed commercial success in the handling of tissues, and other thin, lightweight papers. For such uses, the transversely mounted cutting saw shown in Bachman is satisfactory. However, such saws are not satisfactory in cutting the convolutions of heavier papers, coated or filled stocks and the like, such as for supplying a printing press, due to the limitations of the saw cutting method which have already been mentioned. The cutting knife carriage or assembly 40 of this invention overcomes these difficulties and is suitable for cutting heavier papers which cannot be severed on a reel by a saw.

The assembly 40 is mounted on knife support means which consists of the stands and 21. The assembly 40 is thus supported adjacent the outer circumference of the reel and is mounted for radial movement on the stands 20 and 21 between a retracted position in raised or spaced relation to the reel and a lowered clamping-cutting position.

The knife assembly mounting means includes a pair of vertical ways consisting of an inner fixed member 42 secured to the front surface of the stands 20 and 21 above the pillow blocks 32, and cooperating front or outer way The way members 42 and 44 form vertical way means mounting the entire knife assembly for vertical movement on the stands 20 and 21 and for radial movement with respect to the reel 30.

With further reference to FIG. 1, and with particular reference to the details shown in FIGS. 2-4, the knife assembly 40 includes a supporting platform 45 extending the width of the reel. The platform 45 supports the knife driving mechanism. A front depending plate 46 of channel section and a pair of end plates 47 complete the front and sides of the assembly 40. The ways 44 attach to the end plates 47 rearwardly of the platform.

An air motor 50 shown in FIG. 1 and fragmentarily in FIG. 3 provides the means for moving the assembly 40 in the vertical direction. The air motor 50 is mounted on a plate 51 on the top of the stand 21. A transverse shaft 53 is mounted for rotation between the stands 20 and 21 above the reel 30 and is extended through the stand 21 and carries a driven gear 54 on the extended end thereof. The gear 54 is connected for rotation by the motor 50 through a chain 56 which has one end wrapped over and fixed at the gear 54. A pair of carriage drive gears 57 are carried on the shaft 53 and engage racks 58 fixed to the knife assembly 40. The motor 50 operates by air pressure to raise the assembly 40 on the ways 42 to a raised position clear of the reel 30 and to hold it there during winding. At the conclusion of the winding, the assembly 40 is gravitationally lowered to a cutting position and this lowering is controlled by the motor 50.

Referring more specifically to FIG. 4, which shows the assembly 40 in the lowered position, the reel 30 is shown after having convolutions of paper 60 wound thereon. The assembly 40 includes a transverse channel section beam 61 which may support an index key 62 against the cutting vane 65 to prevent rotation of the reel 30 during clamping. The beam 61 also carries a transverse clamp 66 thereon which moves downwardly into clamping position against the adjacent upper surface of the paper 60 with the movement of the carriage assembly 40. A shearing knife 70 is positioned with its cutting edge 4 parallel to the reel 30. The knife 70 may be hollow ground, if desired, to relieve side pressures thereon; Furthermore, the knife may be supported or formed with an inward taper or rake of one degree on the back 71 for the purpose of relieving side pressures thereon.

The knife 70 is mounted on a knife support channel 74 and which, in turn, has a pair of guides 75 mounted thereon for cooperative movement within horizontal ways 76. The guides 75 and ways 76, which may also be seen in FIG. 1, provide means for supporting the knife for oscillatory movement generally parallel to the convolutions of paper 69 on the reel 30. The parallel relationship is preferred, otherwise the paper would tend to tear away before completely severed.

Vertical guides provide for the downward cutting travel of the assembly including the knife 70, the support channel 74 and the ways 76 radially toward the reel. These vertical guides include a pair of vertical ways 80 which are mounted on the inside surface of the front plate 46 and which support vertical knife guides 81. The guides 81 are, in turn, attached to and support the horizontal knife ways 76. Thus, the knife 70 is mounted for vertical feed movement on the vertical knife ways 80 and for horizontal cutting movement on the horizontal knife ways 76.

The knife drive mechanism of this invention is mounted and supported generally on the platform 45. This drive mechanism includes a connection to the knife to effect horizontal oscillatory or reciprocating movement within the horizontal ways and vertical drive means arranged to feed the knife downwardly and retract the knife on the vertical guides. An important feature of the driving mechanism includes the correlation between the horizontal or reciprocating movement and the vertical feed movement so that the rate of vertical feed is directly proportioned to the horizontal cutting strokes of the knife. In other words, the rate of downward travel of the knife is directly proportional to its rate or horizontal travel so that the force on the knife remains uniform and constant throughout the cutting operation, and the layer effect at the cut edge of the sheets is avoided.

The platform 45 also supports a pair of clamping motors 85 and 86. These clamping motors may be employed to relieve the reel 30 of some of the weight of the knife carriage assembly 40 and to provide vertical and lateral support for the cutting vane 65. The clamping motors 85 and 86 may each consist of a simple air cylinder 87 and an actuating or pull rod 88 extending through the platform 45 and through a suitable opening 89 formed within the vane 65. The pull rod 88 may be suitably grooved to receive a collar 99 (FIGS. 1 and 4) when the rod 88 is extended through the vane 65 so that the motors 85 and 86 may exert an upward clamping pull directly against the vane, when the clamp 66 is in position. However, the clamping motors 85 and 86 may be eliminated where the weight of the assembly 40 is sufficient to provide the desired clamping pressure.

It is understood that the reel 30 is constructed and supported with sufficient' strength to carry the weight of the assembly 40 and the added cutting force.

The knife drive mechanism includes a main knife driving motor 1% which operates through a gear reduction unit 101, mounted on the upper surface of the plate 45. The output shaft of the gear reduction 101 includes a crank 103 to which is fastened one end of a connecting rod 1G4. .The opposite end of the rod 104 is connected to the upper end ofa bell crank 105, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, to effect oscillatory movement thereof as indicated by the arc 106 of FIG. 3. The bell crank is mounted for oscillatory movement on a short shaft 108 which can best be seen in FIG. 2 as being supported between a pair of bearings 109 and 110.

The lower extension of the bell crank connects to a knife oscillating or drive link 112, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. The knife drive link 112 extends generally parallel to the upper surface of the knife channel 74, and is connected to oscillate the channel 7e and the attached knife '70 and guide at a bearing block 114. Thus, the motor operates through the reduction gearing 191 to revolve the crank 103, thereby oscillating the bell crank 1115 and the drive link 112 to effect back and forth cutting strokes of the knife 7% Within the horizontal knife ways 76.

The knife driving apparatus on the assembly 46 further includes drive means for feeding the knife downwardly on the vertical cutting ways 89 at a rate which is proportioned to the linear velocity ofthe knife within the horizontal ways 76. This vertical drive means includes a power take-off directly from the motor 1% and consists of a spur gear 115 connected on the end of the shaft 1% and in continuous engagement with a pair of beveled gears118- and 119. The gears 118 and 119 form the input drive to a pair of one-way clutches 126 and 121. Therefore, the clutches 120 and 121 are each connected for driving rotation in each linear direction of knife movement effected by the crank 1135. The clutches 126 and 121 may be identical in construction, except that each is designed to be engaged in the opposite direction ofrotation. Accordingly, one of the clutches 126 or 121 will be driven in one linear direction of knife movement and the other will be driven in the opposite or return movement of the knife.

The clutches 12d and 121 are mounted in driving relation to a common output shaft 125 and drive this shaft in one direction only, one clutch driving in each direction of knife movement. The shaft 125 is supported on bearing blocks 126 and 127 and supports a chain drive sprocket 128 on the end thereof. A chain 129 is mounted on the drive sprocket and over a driven sprocket 13tl mounted on a clutch to drive a transverse knife feed shaft 131. The shaft 131 is similarly supported on bearings 132 and 133 and is rotated through the chain 129.

A pair of bevel gears 135 and 136 arecarried on the shaft 131 in continuous engagement with gears 138, 139 which, respectively, are secured to the upper ends of vertically disposed screw shafts 141 and 141. The shafts 149 and 141 are mounted for rotation on the platform 45 in bearings 142 and have lower ends which extend through the platform 45 and which are threaded into the vertical knife guides 81. The rotation of the screws and 141 by the shaft 131 results in vertical feed movement of the vertical knife guides 81 within the vertical ways 84 and progressively. lowers the knife 71) in a radial sense through the convolutions of paper 60 on the reel. This radial movement covers a given distance for each oscillation of the knife and is proportional to the linear speed of the knife. Accordingly, the cutting rate of the knife is related to the knife speed, the cutting pressures on the knife remain uniform, and layer effect in the paper cut edge is avoided.

Fast retraction of the knife into itsupper or retracted position from its lowered position is effected by a second motor 15%) which operates through reduction gearing 151 and a two-way electric clutch 153. The clutch 153 is normally energized to engage the chain sprocket 13%) with the shaft 131. However, upon the reversal of this energization, the sprocket 138 is connected in driving relation tothe motor 151) and the reduction gearing 151. When so energized, the motor 15% may be employed to effect rapid movement of the knife into itsretracted or raised position. If desired, a differential drive may be substituted in place of the two-way clutch 153 so that the shaft 131 may be driven either from the clutches 120 and 121 or'from the motor 150.

It is understood that suitable limit switches and controls may be associated with the knife and its mechanism to provide for protection of the parts and for control of the movement. For instance, a limit switch may be provided to move with the horizontal knife. way 76 to touch the cutting vane 65 signalling the end of the cut.

Also, an upper limit switch may be provided to sense the raised position of the knife into its upper limit position for the control of the motor 150. Additional controls may be provided such as a winder counter which stops the winding after a given number of convolutions of paper have been wound, and an inner limit switch may be provided which stops the winder after the vanes have reached a predetermined contracted position, in case the counter fails.

The invention further includes means for maintaining the web under tension throughout the winding and the cutting operation, so that a new wind can be initiated with the web under full starting tension. For this purpose, the paper clamp 66 and the cutting vane 65 are each provided with suction for holding the starting or cut end 6%) of the web. As shown in FIG. 5 and in enlarged detail in FIG. 6, the clamp 66 is provided with longitudinally extending recesses through which vacuum may be evenly distributed through a connection 171. A perforated plate 172 is formed on the face of the clamp 66, and a thin sheet of porous sintered metal 174 is secured over the plate 172 to form the bottom of the clamp 66. The perforated plate 172 provides support for the sheet 174 of porous sintered metal.

The cutting vane 65 is similarly formed with longitudinally extending grooves 176 over which is formed a perforated plate 177, similar to the plate 172, and over which is secured a thin sheet 180 of porous sintered metal. The cutting vane 65 is also provided with a cutting stick 182 which preferably extends the length of the vane 65, adjacent the forward edge thereof and adjacent the combined porous sintered metal 180 and perforated support plate 177. Vacuum is applied to the vane 55 through a rotaly air connection 183 shown in FIG. 1 and the fitting 184 and connecting passageway 185 of FIG. 8.

It has been found that porous sintered metal has a gripping friction force of about three times that of a perforated rubber gripping surface, when vacuum is applied therethrough. This is probably due to the uniform and increased spreading of the vacuum over the contact surface of the paper. Also, porous sintered metal does not mark the sheet. The holding or the gripping force of the vane 65 and the clamp 66 of this invention is in excess of the tensile strength of the paper. A further advantage is that the porous sintered metal is a muffler and results in quieter operation when vacuum is applied. Suitable sheets of porous stainless steel which have been found satisfactory for this purpose have a thickness of /2; inch with a mean pore opening of 165 microns, and identified as Grade C of Micro Metallic Corporation, Glen Cove, New York.

The combination of the vacuum clamp 65 and the vacuum cutting vane 65 permits the starting up of the winder 319 under full tension. Preferably, a controlled dancer roll is employed to regulate tension during starting. Thus, all of the first sheets are wrapped under the desired tension and are therefore held at the required length. It has been found that 20 inches of vacuum applied to the vane and clamp producesa sufficient gripping force on the web so that starting may be made with full tension.

A simplified circuit which may be used for the applicas tion of vacuum to the clamp 66 and the vane 65 is illustrated in FIG. 9 wherein a vacuum pump 188 supplies vacuum either to the clamp or to the .vane selectively through a two-way electric solenoid valve 191). The valve 190 may be operated by means of a manual switch 191, which diagrammatically illustrates the employment of control means for selecting the vacuum to the clamp or vane in accordance with a predetermined cycle of operation. In the illustration of FIG. 9, the valve 190 applies vacuum to the winding vane 65 through the rotary seal 185 when it is unenergized, and in the energized position supplies vacuum to the clamp 66. The control of the switch 191 may be manual, or it may be automatically controlled in accordance with a cycle of operation.

Reference may be had to FIGS. -14 and the corresponding FIGS. 10a, 12a and 13a which illustrate the operation of the suction vane and suction clamp in a cycle of operation. In FIG. 10, the clamp 66 has moved down into pressure contact with the convolutions of paper 60 on the reel 36 immediately above the cutting vane 65. At this time, the valve 196, which is diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 10a, may be positioned to apply vacuum to the vane 65. Normally, the vacuum is applied to the vane 65 throughout the entire winding and the actual cutting operation. Thus, in FIG. 11, the knife 70 is shown as progressing through the paper 6%, and the free sheets are shown as falling off to the right while the left-hand portion of the sheets are held under the force of the clamp 66.

At the conclusion of "the cut, the knife '76 is retracted to its raised or starting position as shown in FIG. 12, and the switch 191 may be manually operated or operated by other suitable control means to cause the valve 1% to shift, thereby applying vacuum to the clamp 66. Upon the raising of the clamp 66, as illustrated in FIG. 12, the end of the web 66 is carried from the top of the stack or convolutions of paper upwardly under original tension with the clamp 66. The cut paper is free to fall to the left when released by the clamp. The clamp motor 50 may then be operated to lower the clamp 66 downwardly into physical engagement with the top of the vane 65. At this time, the switch 191 is opened to reestablish vacuum in the winding and cutting vane 65. When the clamp 66 is again lifted, the web 66 has been transferred down to the vane 65 under tension and is ready to commence winding.

The employment of the cutting assembly 40 above the reel permits the use of a hydraulic skid table illustrated generally at 200 in FIG. 1. The table 200 has a hydraulically movable upper platform 2%]. which is normally lowered during the winding operation, but which is raised into contact with the paper 66 at the bottom of the reel, as shown in the fragment in FIG. 4. The skid table 200 is preferably mobile so that the skid of paper laying thereon after the cutting operation can be moved from underneath the winder 30 to a position more convenient for the feeding of a press.

The hydraulic table 260 is not normally employed to support the load of the cutting assembly during the cutting operation, since the reel 30 is provided with sufiicient strength for this purpose. However, the table 200 may be used to provide support for the reel 30, if desired. In a typical installation, the reel 30 may take a web having a maximum width of 54 inches. The knife may be 62 inches long, and the total knife assembly 40 may weigh one ton. Thus, the assembly 40 provides sufilcient cutting pressure, and some of this cutting pressure may be removed by back loading or picking off some of the weight with the motor 50. If the clamping motors 85 and 86 are employed, the cutting force of the knife is added to the clamping force. The cutting rate may vary with the type of paper being cut. Ina typical installation, the total cutting force may be 800 lbs. for inch widths, resulting in 16 lbs. per linear inch of width. With this invention, paper convolutions 2 inches in thickness may be cut in five seconds.

The operation of the overall machine is largely self-. evident from the preceding description. In forming skids of paper for feeding a sheet press, it is anticipated that the sheeting reel 36 will make one turn for each turn of the press. The vanes 38 are expanded to their full desired circumference according to the length of sheet to be cut. However, there may be as much as V inch of stretch in the paper due to the tension on winding 30 inches in diameter. Therefore, the vanes 38 may be set at a greater diameter providing a sheet length in excess of the desired length in order to provide for the stretch within the paper web.

The stretch results in inward forces against the vanes, and the tension with which the winding is commenced prevents the slipping and holds the paper against the vane. This results in an inward load which accumulates against the vanes and which is maintained as the vanes move inwardly. However, the inward movement of the vanes relieves the tension between the vanes, resulting in the sagging of the inner sheets of paper therebetween, as illustrated in FIG. 4. This sagging is unobjectionable. The outer sheets or wraps will remain in tension throughout the winding operation to prevent the slipping. There may be as few as three wraps in tension or, if on the winding of a thin plastic material, there may be as many as 100 wraps in tension.

The winding on the reel 30 is continued, and the vanes are uniformly retracted, according to the disclosure in the Bachman patent. The thickness of the web being wound will dictate the rate of retractions, with web thicknesses between 0.5 mil and 4 mils possible. When the desired number of convolutions or wraps have been wound onto the reel 30, as determined by a counter or as determined by the inward movement of the vanes 33, the reel is stopped maintaining the tension therein. The reel 30 may be moved by hand until the cutting vane 65 is in the upper position, at which point the reel 30 may be locked as disclosed in the Bachman patent.

The assembly 40, which has been raised to an upper position clear of the reel, is gravitationally lowered into the clamping position with the clamp 66 in contact with the upper surface of the paper. The indexing key 62 is lowered with the assembly 40 and contacts the extended end of the vane 65 beyond the paper wound thereover.

The lowering movement is controlled by the air motor 50 which creates a back force applied through the chain 56, the sprocket 54, the transverse shaft 53 and the carriage drive gears 57. This vertical movement of the carriage assembly 40 is guided within the carriage slides or the vertical Ways 42 on the uprights 20 and 21 and 44 on the assembly 40. Normally, the entire weight of the assembly 40 is permitted to rest on the reel 30 throughout the cutting operation. However, if it is desired to use less than the total clamping pressure, this may be done by using the motor 50 to relieve a portion of this clamping pressure, and the air pressure to the motor 50 may be monitored. Additionally, load cells may be incorporated within the bearings 31 and 32 of the reel 30 for the purpose of monitoring the load thereon.

At this time, the pull rods 90 of the clamping motors and 86 may be extended downwardly through the openings 89 formed in the vane 65 and the collars 90 may be fastened on the ends. The clamping motors 50 may then be reversed to draw upwardly against the bottom of the cutting vane 65 at the opposite ends thereof.

The cutting operation is commenced by the starting of the knife drive motor which oscillates the knife 70 in the horizontal ways through the crank 163 and rod 104, the bell crank and the knife oscillating bar 112. Simultaneously, the knife 70 and the knife support bar 74 are moved downwardly within the vertical ways 80 by the intermittent rotation of the shaft 131, as effected by the clutches and 121. The rate of proportional downward knife movement may be varied by varying the ratio of the sprocket 128 to the sprocket 130.

The conclusion of the cutting operation is preferably sensed by a limit switch which may be secured to the horizontal knife way 76 to contact the cutting vane 65 at the conclusion of the cutting movement. At this point, the two-way electric clutch 153, which has been energized to connect the sprocket 130 with the shaft 131, is energized in the reverse sense to connect the motor to the shaft 131' for the rapid raising or lifting of the knife 76 into the raised position. Simultaneously, the operation of the cutting motor 190 is terminated. Preferably, the table 296 has been positioned below the reel 30 to receive the paper as it drops after cutting. Preferably, the table is brought up into a raised position against the lowermost vane 33 so that the paper drops with a uniform lay without lateral displacement. The platform 201 of the table 209 is then lowered, and the assembly 40 is lowered to transfer the web from the clamp 66 to the suction and cutting vane 65 for a subsequent winding operation.

The cut stacks of paper are characterized by uniformity in size and an absence in layer effect along the cut edge. The skids are ready for feeding a sheet fed press, and the Winding'may be immediately commenced.

The invention is particularly adapted for operation with a minimum of labor or attention. All operating controls may be arranged for the convenience of a single operator. The various sequence of operation may be organized for operation by the selection of an appropriate push button, and these buttons may be sequentially arranged to eliminate errors.

A single sheeting device constructed according to this invention may be used with papers of varying weights and widths, up to the limit of the reel. It is not adversely affected by changing paper weights and requires a minimum of adjustment and attention.

While the form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A device for sheeting from a reel of paper comprising a winder having a plurality of retractable wanes for forming convolution of paper thereon of uniform circumferential dimension, knife support means for supporting a cutting knife assembly adjacent the outer circumference of said reel, a cutting knife assembly mounted for radial movement on said support means between a retracted position in spaced relation to the reel and a clamping position and having a clamping bar engageable with the convolutions of paper at one of said vanes in said clamping position, a cutting knife on said assembly having a cutting edge extending generally parallel to the surface of said convolutions, means in said knife assembly supporting said knife for reciprocating movement generally parallel to said convolutions, and means for simultaneously moving said knife on said knife assembly for. shearing movement in a direction generally radial of said reel.

2. A devicefor sheetingfrom areel of paper comprising a Winder having a plurality of retractable vanes for forming convolutions of paper thereon of uniform circumferential dimension, knire support means for supporting a cutting knife assembly adjacent the outer circumference of said reel, a knife assembly mounted for radial movement on said support means between a retracted position in spaced relation to the reel and a clamping position and having a clamping bar engageable with the convolutions of paper at one of said vanes in said clamping position, a cutting knife on said assembly having a cutting edge extending generally parallel to the surface of said convolutions, a pair of horizontal ways supporting said knife fo reciprocating movement generally parallel to said convolutions, and a pair of vertical Ways supporting said horizontal ways and providing for shearing movemfii'lt of said knife in a direction generally radial of said ree 3. A sheeter comprising a winding reel having inwardly retractable winding vanes, support means adjacent each end of said reel, a cutting knife assembly supported on said support means including a clamp bar movable into clamping engagement with the paper against one of said vanes, said assembly having horizontal guide means providing for cutting movement in a direction generally parallel to the axis of said reel and vertical guide means providing for movement radially of said reel toward and away from said one vane, knife assembly drive means connected to said knife to effect reciprocating movement in said horizontal guide means, and vertical drive means connected to said knife drive means and arranged to rnove said knife on said vertical guide at a rate proportional to the linear velocity of said knife in said horizontal guide means.

4, A sheeting device comprising a pair of spaced apart upright stands, a collapsing winding reel supported on said stand for rotation therebetween, a cutting knife assembly mounted on said stands for reciprocal movement etween-a position :clear of said reel and a cutting position, a pressure clamp on said assembly positioned for pressure contact with the paper on said reel against a cutting vane thereof in said cutting position, said assembly including a reciprocating paper shearing knife, first guide means mounting said knife for transverse reciprocating movement and second guide means mounting said first guide means on asid assembly for vertical movement, and combined knife drive means and feed means for driving said knife in said first guide means and for feeding said knife in said second gmide :means at a rate proportioned to the linear velocity of said knife in said first guide means.

5. A sheeting device comprising a pair of spaced apart upright stands, a collapsing winding reel supported for rotation between said stands, a cutting knife assembly mounted on said stands above said reel for reciprocal movement thereon between a raised position clear of said reel and a lowered cutting position, a combined suction and cutting vane on said reel, a combined pressure and suction clamp on said assembly positioned for pressure contact with the paper on said reel against said cutting vane thereof in said lowered position, said assembly including a reciprocating paper shearing knife, first guide means mounting said knife for transverse reciprocating movement and second guide means mounting said first means on said assembly for vertical movement, km'fe drive means for driving said knife in said first guide means, knife feed means for feeding said knife downwardly in said second guide means for cutting movement through convolutions of paper on said reel, and valve means for applying vacuum selectively to said clamp and vane to hold a Web under tension and for transfer of said web between said clamp and vane when said clamp is in pressure contact with said vane.

6. A sheeter comprising a retracting reel having retractable winding vanes, one of said vanes being a combined suction and, cutting vane, support means adjacent each end of said reel, a knife assem bly supported on said means and including a combined vacuum and clamp bar movable into clamping engagement with the paper against said one vane, said assembly having horizontal guide means providing for cutting movement in a direction parallelirto said paper andvertical guide means providing for movement radially of said reel toward and away from said one vane, knife assembly drive means connected to said knife to effect horizontal reciprocating movement in said horizontal guide means, vertical drive means connected to said horizontal drive means and arranged to move said knife on said vertical guide means a given distance for each horizontal stroke of said knife, means for applying vacuum selectively to said clamp bar and said one vane, and a thin sheet of porous sintered metal on each said clamp bar and said one vane providing a gripping surface on each said bar, and one vane for gripping said web while holding said web under tension.

7. A sheeter comprising a web winding reel having inwardly retractable winding vanes, support means adjacent each side of said reel, a clamp bar movable into clamping engagement with the paper against one of said vanes, a

knife assembly supported on said means and having horizontal guide means providing for cutting movement in a direction generally parallel to the axis of said reel and vertical guide means providing for movement radially of said reel toward and away from said one vane, knife assembly drive means connected to said knife to effect reciprocating movement in said horizontal guide means, vertical drive means connected to said knife drive means including a pair of clutches and an output shaft, each of said clutches connected to drive said shaft in one direction and further arranged to be respectively driven by said knife drive means in opposite directions of said reciprocating knife movement, said shaft arranged to move said knife on said vertical guide means with said clutches providing continuously proportional radial movement for each horizontal stroke of said knife.

8. A device for sheeting from a reel of paper comprising a winder having a plurality of retractable vanes for forming convolutions of paper thereon of uniform circumferential dimension, support means supporting a cutting knife assembly adjacent the outer circumference of said reel and providing for radial movement on said support means between a retracted position in spaced relation to the reel and a clamping position and having a clamping bar engageable with the convolutions of paper at one of said vanes in said clamping position, a cutting knife on said assembly having a cutting edge extending generally parallel to the surface of said convolutions, means in said knife assembly supporting said knife for reciprocating movement generally parallel to said convolutions, means providing for the simultaneous shearing movement of said knife on said knife assembly in a. direction generally radial of said reel, knife drive means having a crank connected for reciprocating said knife, a pair of one-way clutches one each connected for driving rotation in each linear direction of knife movement effected by said crank, and an output shaft connected to be driven by said clutches and connected to drive said knife in said radial direction a given distance for each said linear movement of said knife by said crank.

9. A device for sheeting from a reel of paper comprising, a pair of spaced apart support stands, a winder reel mounted for rotation on said stands and having a plurality of retractable vanes for forming convolutions of paper thereon of uniform circumferential dimension, a cutting knife assembly mounted on said stands above said reel mounted for radial movement between a retracted raised position in spaced relation to the reel and a clamping lowered position, a clamping bar in said assembly engageable with the convolutions of paper at one of said vanes in said clamping position, a cutting knife on said assembly having a cutting edge extending generally parallel to the surface of said convolutions, means in said knife assembly supporting said knife for reciprocating movement general-' ly parallel to said convolutions, means providing for the simultaneous shearing movement of said knife on said knife assembly in a direction generally radial of said reel, knife drive means having a crank connected for reciprocating said knife, :1 pair of one-way clutches one each connected for driving rotation in each linear direction of knife movement effected by said crank, and an output i shaft connected to be driven by said clutches and connected to drive said knife in said radial direction a given distance for each said linear movement of said knife by said crank.

10. A device for sheeting from a reel of paper comprising a winder having a plurality of retractable vanes for forming convolutions of paper thereon of uniform circumferential dimension, support means supporting a cutting knife assembly adjacent the outer circumference of said reel and providing for radial movement on said support means between a retracted position in spaced relation to the reel and a clamping position and having a clamping bar engageable with the convolutions of paper at one of said vanes in said clamping position, a cutting knife on said assembly having a cutting edge extending generally parallel to the surface of said convolutions, means in said knife assembly supporting said knife for reciprocating movement generally parallel to said convolutions and for simultaneously shearing movement of said knife on said knife assembly in a direction generally radial of said reel, knife drive means having a crank connected for reciprocating said knife, a pair of one-way clutches one each connected for driving rotation in each linear direction of knife movement effected by said crank, and an output shaft connected in common to each said clutches and arranged to drive said knife in said radial direction a given distance for each stroke of said knife by said crank, and a knife retraction motor releasably connectable to said shaft for effecting rapid retraction of said knife to a position in spaced relation to said reel.

ll. Apparatus for winding a Web under tension and for forming sheets while holding the tension in said web, comprising a winding reel having a plurality of angularly spaced winding vanes thereon, one of said vanes being a combination suction and cutting vane and having an outer suction web gripping surface, a cutting assembly having a combined cutting and suction clamp having an outer web gripping and clamping surface, means mounting said clamp on said apparatus for movement between a retracted position clear of said reel vanes and a clamping position with said clamping surface in force applying relation'to the web on said one vane, a source of vacuum, and controlable valve means connected to said source and having selectable connections to each said suction vane and clamp and operable selectively to apply vacuum to said vane during winding and to said clamp following cutting for gripping the end of said web and holding said web under tension.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein each of said vane and clamp gripping surfaces comprise a sheet of porous stainless steel.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,899,923 Brackett Mar. 7, 1933 2,706,093 Cline Apr. 12, 1955 2,805,828 Bachman Sept. 10, 1957 2,851,102 Anderson Sept. 9, 1958 2,929,289 Gorecki Mar, 22, 1960 

1. A DEVICE FOR SHEETING FROM A REEL OF PAPER COMPRISING A WINDER HAVING A PLURALITY OF RETRACTABLE VANES FOR FORMING CONVOLUTIONS OF PAPER THEREON OF UNIFORM CIRCUMFERENTIAL DIMENSIONS, KNIFE SUPPORT MEANS FOR SUPPORTING A CUTTING KNIFE ASSEMBLY ADJACENT THE OUTER CIRCUMFERENCE OF SAID REEL, A CUTTING KNIFE ASSEMBLY MOUNTED FOR RADIAL MOVEMENT ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS BETWEEN A RETRACTED POSITION IN SPACED RELATION TO THE REEL AND A CLAMPING POSITION AND HAVING A CLAMPING BAR ENGAGEABLE WITH THE CONVOLUTIONS OF PAPER AT ONE OF SAID VANES IN SAID CLAMPING POSITON, A CUTTING KNIFE ON SAID ASSEMBLY 